Disengagement of Advanced and Elite Greek Male Athletes from Organized Competitive Sport

Abstract

In contrast to previous quantitative research on the disengagement from sport which suffers from methodological weakness, in the present research it is argued that disengagement from sport can best be examined from a social action perspective, especially from a phenomenological perspective. Moreover, unlike previous research which presented a static and functional view of the world, former athletes in the present study made suggestions for a better or alternative structure of sport. Data was collected through questionnaires, single interviews, and small group interviews. 137 questionnaires were collected from advanced and elite ex-athletes in athletics, rowing and volleyball (return rate 87,3 %) in Salonica, Greece. 34 of these ex-athletes were interviewed 6 to 8 months after the delivery of questionnaires. Apart from factors leading to disengagement from sport, an attempt is made to examine any possible adjustment problems, the resocialization of drop- outs into other sports and physical activities and other aspects of the disengagement process. For the analysis of interviews the method of cognitive mapping, as described by Eden et al (1983) and Jones (1985), was used. A combination of factors both inside and outside the sporting environment influences the disengagement process.